Detachable feed belt for automatic firearms



@ci. 8, 1935. N. MANClNl r DETACHABLE FEED BELT FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMSFiled March 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inveni'or Niccolo ManciniA'v-Tonneus Get. 8, 1935. N. MANCINI 2,016,750

DETACHABLE FEED BELT FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed March 19, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 InvenToR B Niccolo Mancl m' Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITEDSTATES DETACHABLE FEED BELT FOR. AUTOMATIC FIREA EMS Niccolo Mancini,Florence, Italy Application March 19, 1934,.Serial No. 716,273

In Germany March 20, '1933 6 Claims. (Cl. 8935) The present inventionrelates to metal feed belts for automatic fire arms composed of separateelements and is intended to give a simple form to the web and to renderit suitable for all. uses and also for all angles of firing.

It is well known that the cartridge-webs in ordinary use may readily berolled up in a direction parallel to the cartridge though presenting acertain rigidity in the direction of the plane of the cartridge. Thisinterferes with the introduction of the cartridges in the case of firingwith a large firing angle.

This drawback is eliminated according to the invention through the ovalshape imparted to the eyelets of the hinges which hold the separateparts of the belt together. This ovalization allows of a certain playbetween the separate parts and thus confers upon the web considerablepliancy in a transversal direction as well. a

Two examples of execution of the invention are shown in the drawings, i.e.--

Fig. 1 represents a view of the web element seen from above and from theside, and

Fig. 1a is a corresponding edge view.

Fig. 1b is a corresponding end view.

Fig. 2 shows a group of various elements seen from above and from therear.

Fig. 2a is a corresponding end view.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a second form of execution of the invention.

Fig. 3a is a corresponding edge view.

Fig. 3b is a corresponding end view.

Fig. 4a is an end view corresponding to Fig. 4.

As apparent from Fig. 1, the belt is composed of two flat rectangularmetal parts, namel the web portion I and the clip portion 2 of which Iis provided with two rims 3 and 3 so shaped that they are enabled tohold fast the cartridges. The clip portion 2 carries an abutment 4arranged perpendicularly to the plane thereof, against which abutmentthe bottom of the cartridge rests, in order to secure it evenly to thebelt.

The twoparts I and 2 are connected together through oval hinges 5 and 5in such a manner that longitudinal axis of the oval is perpendicular tothe plane of the element (Fig. 1).

In Fig. 2 various elements are associated in order to show the formationof the loaded belt. The part of the web portion which carries theabutment 4 is so laid upon the part of the clip portion that carries therims that it will lie between these rims. Thereupon, the cartridge isinserted between the rims. Thus, the cartridge holds the two elementstogether. In this manner, the entire web may be made up.

Hence there also ensues the function of the web. As soon asthe'cartridge is discharged and removed from its position in the belt,the web portion is deprived of the support of the element preceding it,so that it becomes detached from ''5 the belt through :the vibrations ofthe gun and from the web, due to the force of gravity, as indicated inFig. 2

Due to the oval formation of the hinge knuckles, the plane of one partof the web element is en- 10' abled to clivaricate somewhat from theplane of the adjacent one. Thus a certain possibility of torsion isensured to the belt, whereby the introduction of the cartridges isfacilitated.

Figs. 3 and 4 represent a second form of execu- 15 tion of theinvention. Fig. 3 shows an element of the web that is composed of twoparts connected together by means of hinges. Part 6 is a rectangularplate and carries the projections I and I that hold the cartridges,and-the abut- 20 ment 8 by which the cartridge is checked. The webportion I0 is hinged at 9 to the part 6. This Web portion I0 carries atits free extremity a projection II. The dimensions of the several partsare so chosen, that the web portion I 0 of one 25 element may be laidupon the part B of a second element, as it is enabled to pass betweenthe openings left in the righthand projections 1-1 The projection II ofthe web portion thus comes into alignment with the left-hand projectionI- 30 I of the part 6.

Both'the parts 6 of one element and the web portion of the. otherelement are held by the cartridge, as the cartridge is held by the twoelements (Fig. 4) in the same way as in the first 35" form of execution.

In this form of execution, likewise, the hinge eyelets may beappropriately shaped. Instead of being ovalized, the hinges may be ofsome similar shape, for instance, they may be of rec- 40 tangular shapewith semi-circular ends at their narrow sides.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is:

1. A feed belt for automatic fire arms comprising a plurality ofdetachable elements connected in a series, each of said elementscomprising a web portion and a clip portion articu- 5 latelyinterconnected, said web portion being adapted to be gripped by the clipportion of the preceding element of the feed belt.

2. A feed belt for automatic fire arms comprising a plurality ofdetachable elements connected in a series, each of said elementscomprising a web portion and a clip portion, both substantiallyrectangular in form, said web portion being adapted to be gripped by theclip portion of the preceding element of the feed belt.

3. A feed belt for automatic fire arms comprising a plurality ofdetachable elements connected in a series, each of said elementscomprising a web portion and a 'clip portion articulatelyinterconnected, said 'c'lip portion "having means for gripping thecartridge and said web portion being adapted to overlap the clip portionof the preceding element of the belt, wherebynit is held in position bythe cartridge gripped byisaid clip portion.

4. A feed belt for automatic fire arms comprising a plurality ofdetachable elements connected in a series, each of saidelementssomprising a web portion and a clip portionarticulatelyinterconnected, said web portion being provided with an abutment.adjaeentoneextremity thereof, and said clip portion :having :twooppositely disposed longitudinal rims projecting :firom its base andadapted to grip the cartridge, :said Web portion being adapted :tooverlap the clip portion of the precedingelements-of rtheseries, wherebyit is held firmly inposition by .the pressure of the cartridge grippedintermediate the rims of said clip portion :and the abutment of said webportion.

5. A feed belt for automatic fire arms :comprising a plurality ofdetachable -elements connected in a series, each of said elements-comprising a Web portionand a clip portion articulately interconnectedby means of ;a hinge, the

knuckles of said hinge being oval in shape and having its longitudinalaxis perpendicular to the plane of said elements, whereby a divaricationintermittent the planes of the said web portion and said clip portion isprovided, and whereby the belt is given a certain torsion about an axisparallel to the edges of the belt, said clip portion having twooppositely disposed longitudinal rims projecting from its base adaptedto grip the cartridge, "and said WGbPOItiOIl having an abutment adjacentone extremity thereof and adapted to overlap the clip portionintermediate said longitudinal -of rthepreceding element of the serieswhereby it is held firmly'in position by the cartridge grippedintermediate said rims and said abutment.

6. A deed :belt for automatic fire arms comprising a plurality ofdetachable elements connected in a series, each of said elementscomprising'a web portion and a clip portion, both H substantially:rectangular in shape and articulately interconnected, said clip portionhaving oppositely idisposedland relatively spacedprojections forgripping :the cartridge, andsaid Web portion being :adapted to overlapthe said clip portion intermediate said projections of the preceding.elements of the series and having a projection disposed adjacent itsfree longitudinal edge soas to fit between the corresponding Drojectionsof said .clip portion, said Web portion beingaheld firmly in positionagainst the clip portion of the preceding element bythe co-action of thecartridge gripped intermediate said pro- .j ections.

vNICCCJLO -MANCINI.

